Beloved, I am pleased to share with you today the above theme from Acts 14:1-2. Indeed, in Icone, the word produces the same double effect as before: faith in many, opposition in others. As for the apostles, they speak boldly; and what is the secret of their courage? They are “leaned upon the Lord,” who also cooperates with them, confirming their word through miracles and wonders (Mark 16:14-20). In addition, the healing carried out in Lystra after the apostles were driven out of Icon, produces the strongest impression on these poor pagans. They are about to worship as gods these men who yesterday were sought elsewhere to stone. But in the eyes of the apostles, it was much worse. For horrified, they invite these idolaters to turn to the living God (Acts 12:20-24).
But the feelings of the crowds are little because the Jews who arrived from Icone soon won them and stoned Paul with the consent of all. But preserved by the Lord, the faithful servant is neither frightened nor discouraged. For he calmly continues his ministry, returning to the cities in which the gospel has already been proclaimed. This first journey for the gospel is coming to an end. The apostles are quick to tell the church all the glorious things God has done with them.
Indeed, from Antioch, Paul and Barnabas went to Icon. In the synagogue, “they spoke in such a way that a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed.” By the results of their preaching, we note that they spoke under the powerful action of the Holy Spirit who placed before all the Word of God. For “faith comes from what one hears, and what one hears comes from the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17). It is simply said that they “believed”. For the word of God is addressed to the sinner so that he may believe it; and by believing it, he believes God. While the reasoning man claims that to believe one must understand; but the word of God can only be understood by those who believe because they possess the divine life and the Holy Spirit. For God has used great kindness to men by placing before them his Word, which it is enough to believe in order to be saved.
Indeed, he knew that no one could be saved by any work, or even by seeking to understand what he says, even if one was in possession of the highest human intelligence, which is why he puts his Word within the reach of all, so that everyone places himself before it in the attitude of a little child who believes what he hears because he trusts in the one who speaks. And seeing himself rejected by the wise and intelligent of this world, the Lord said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and that you have revealed them to the children.” (Matt. 11:25). For not all little children can become wise and intelligent according to the world; but the wise and the intelligent can become like little children to believe, and so all can be saved.
For the Lord was the strength of Paul and Barnabas; and it was he who had sent them; they spoke on his behalf and, by the miracles he gave them to do, he gave witness to the word of his grace which they announced. The miracles were not intended to convert these pagans, but to accredit to them the word by which they could obtain salvation. This double operation of the Lord’s power was necessary: by the word in the hearts and by the miracles they witnessed, to accomplish God’s work among the Jews who had crucified the Lord and among the people who had been plunged for more than two thousand years into the darkness of idolatry. Today the Lord no longer works miracles since, in our countries, all possess the Bible and claim to be Christians; but it takes the power of His Word to save these nominal Christians, for not all of them are in reality.
But “in Lystra sat a man impotent of his feet, lame by birth, and who had never walked. He listened to Paul speak. And Paul, staring at him and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said in a loud voice: Stand up straight on your feet. And he jumped up and walked.” At the sight of what Paul had done, the crowd raised their voices, and said in the Lydian language: “The gods in human form have descended to us. They called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury, because he was the one who spoke. The priest of Jupiter, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought bulls with strips to the gates, and wanted, like the crowd, to offer a sacrifice. The apostles Barnabas and Paul, having learned this, tore their clothes, and rushed into the midst of the crowd, exclaiming: O men, why are you doing this?”
We, too, are men of the same nature as you; and, bringing you good news, we exhort you to renounce these vain things, to turn to the living God, who made heaven, earth, sea, and all that is there. This God, in the past ages, has allowed all nations to follow their own ways, though He has never ceased to bear witness to who He is, doing good, dispensing you from heaven with the rains and fertile seasons, giving you food in abundance, and filling your hearts with joy. Then came from Antioch and Icon Jews who won the crowd, and who, after stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.
But, surrounded by the disciples, Paul had the strength to get up and enter the city, which he left the next day to go to Derbe with Barnabas. For the Lord had to support him powerfully so that he could continue his service after being left for dead under the stones he had received. He alludes to this circumstance: “Once I have been stoned” (2 Co 11:5). He also reminded Timothy of the persecutions and sufferings he had endured in Antioch, Icon, and Lystra, adding, “And the Lord has delivered me from all” (2 Tim 3:11).
We may find it strange that the Lord would allow such a faithful servant as Paul to go through such great trials which, from human views, were to be detrimental to the performance of his service. But the apostle understood why the Lord was acting in this way. For so that I might not be swollen with pride, because of the excellence of these revelations, I was put a splinter in the flesh, an angel of Satan to and prevent me from taking pride. Three times I prayed to the Lord to take Him away from me, and He said to me: My grace is enough for you, for my power is fulfilled in weakness. I will therefore boast much more willingly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. That is why I like weaknesses, in outrages, in calamities, in persecutions, in distress, for Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Co 12:7-10).
Paul and Barnabas retraced their steps, and, crossing Pisidia and Pamphylia again, they arrived at Perge, near the sea, where they announced the word. From there they went by sea to Antioch from where they had departed, recommended to the grace of God which did not fail them throughout this laborious journey. In Antioch, they gathered the congregation and recounted all the things God had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith to the nations.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- Adversaries hinder spiritual work, examples:
Esd 4:4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah; they intimidated them to prevent them from building; Ne 4.2 He mocked the Jews, and said before his brothers and before the soldiers of Samaria: What are these helpless Jews working for? Will they be allowed to do so? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish? Will they revive stones buried under piles of dust and consumed by fire? Za 3:1 He made me see Joshua, the high priest, standing before the angel of Jehovah, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. Acts 13:8 But Elymas, the magician, for this is what his name means, opposed them, seeking to divert the proconsul from the faith. Acts 18:6 The Jews then objected and engaged in insults, Paul shook his clothes, and said to them, “Let your blood fall on your head! I am pure of it. From now on, I will go to the pagans. 1 Co 16:9 because a large door of efficient access is open to me, and the opponents are numerous. 2 Tim 3:8 Just as Jannes and Jambers opposed Moses, so these men oppose the truth, being corrupt in understanding, reprobate as far as faith is concerned. 2 Tim 4:15 Beware of him too, for he strongly opposed our words.
- Examples of Spiritual Boldness
Mk 15:43 came Joseph of Arimathea, counselor of distinction, who himself also awaited the kingdom of God. He dared to go to Pilate, to ask for the body of Jesus. Acts 4:13 When they saw the assurance of Peter and John, they were astonished, knowing that they were men of the people without education; and they recognized them for having been with Jesus. Acts 9:29 He also spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they sought to take his life. Acts 14:3 They remained, however, long enough in Icon, speaking confidently, leaning on the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace and allowed him to do wonders and miracles to himself through their hands. Acts 19:8 Then Paul entered the synagogue, where he spoke freely. For three months he spoke about things concerning the kingdom of God, trying to persuade those who listened to him. Acts 28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ, freely and without hindery.
- The Gift of Healing
Mt 10:1 Then, having called his twelve disciples, he gave them the power to cast out unclean spirits, and to heal all sickness and infirmity. Mk 3:15 and to send them to preach with the power to cast out demons. Mk 16:18 they will seize serpents; if they drink any mortal beverage, they will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and the sick will be healed. 1 Co 12:9 to another, faith, by the same Spirit; to another, the gift of healings, by the same Spirit;
- Persecution of Paul
Acts 9:29 He also spoke and argued with the Hellenists; but they sought to take his life. Acts 13:50 But the Jews excited the devout women of distinction and the principals of the city; they provoked persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and they drove them out of their territory. Acts 14:5: 19 And as the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, set out to outrage and stone them, 19 Then came from Antioch and Icon the Jews who won the crowd, and who, after stoneing Paul, dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. Acts 16:22 The crowd also rose up against them, and the praetors, having had their clothes torn off, ordered that they be beaten with yards. Acts 18:12 When Gallion was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews rose unanimously against Paul, and brought him before the tribunal; Acts 21:36 for the multitude of the people followed, crying out: Make him die! Acts 22:22 They listened to him until this word. But then they raised their voices, saying: Ote from the earth such a man! He is not worthy to live. Acts 23:10 As discord grew, the tribune, fearing that Paul would be to pieces by these people, brought the soldiers down to remove him from among them and lead him to the fortress. 1 Co 4:12 we get tired of working with our own hands; insulted, we bless; persecuted, we endure; 2 Co 4:9 persecuted, but not abandoned; slaughtered, but not lost;2 Co 11:24 five times I have received from the Jews forty blows minus one;2 Tim 2:9 for which I suffer to the point of being bound as a wrongdoer. But the word of God is not bound. 2 Tim 3:11 my persecutions, my sufferings. To what sufferings have I not been exposed in Antioch, in Icon, in Lystra? What persecutions have I not endured? And the Lord delivered me from all.
- Examples of Stoning
Nb 14:10 The whole congregation spoke of stoning them, when the glory of the Lord appeared on the tent of assignment, before all the children of Israel. Joshua 7:25 Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? Jehovah will trouble you today. And all of Israel lapida him. They were burned in the fire, they were laped;1 Kings 12:18 Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was a tax clerk. But Adoram was stoned to all israel, and he died. And King Rehoboam hurried to get on a chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 1 Kings 21:13 the two wicked men came before him, and these wicked men thus laid before the people against Naboth: Naboth cursed God and the king! Then they led him out of the city, they stoned him, and he died. 2 Ch 24:21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him by order of the king, in the forecourt of the house of the Lord. Jn 10:31 Then the Jews again took stones to stone him. Acts 7:60 Then, having kneeled, he cried out in a loud voice: Lord, do not impute this sin to them! And, after these words, he fell asleep. Acts 14:19 Then from Antioch and Icon came jews who won the crowd, and who, after stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city, thinking he was dead.
- Gospel (good news)
Mt 4:23 Jesus traveled all over Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and infirmity among the people. Acts 20:24 But I do not make any of my life for myself, as if it were precious to me, provided that I carry out my race with joy, and the ministry I have received from the Lord Jesus, to proclaim the good news of God’s grace. 1 Co 9.12 If others enjoy this right over you, is it not rather up to us to enjoy it? But we have not used this right; on the contrary, we suffer everything, so as not to create an obstacle to the gospel of Christ. 2 Co 4:3 If our gospel is still veiled, it is veiled for those who perish; Eph 6:19 Pray for me, that when I open my mouth, I may be given the power to make known boldly and freely the mystery of the Gospel; Phil 1:27 Only, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, that either I may come to see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you remain firm in the same spirit, fighting with the same soul for the faith of the Gospel;1 Thess 1:5 our Gospel has not been preached to you in words alone, but with power, with the Holy Spirit, and with full persuasion; for you are aware that we have shown ourselves to be so among you, because of you. 2 Thess 1:8 in the midst of a flame of fire, to punish those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
From all the above, we note that Paul’s first journey of evangelization was strange in that the Lord alloweda servant as faithful as him to go through such great trials (including stoning) which, in human view, were to be detrimental to the performance of his service, that is, the beginning of the great ministry that the Lord had entrusted to him. He had not only to proclaim salvation to the nations, but to announce to the converts that they constituted the Church or Assembly of God, of which every believer is a member of the body of Christ, with his head in heaven. The church of each locality represents the universal church of which Christ is the sole head. There is only one church in the whole world, of which every believer is a part. The founders of the diverse churches, independent of each other, should come together as the body of Christ. Our prayers support you all in becoming members of the body of Christ.
PRAYER FOR ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Ghost. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and for centuries of centuries. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow on “Law or Grace and God. “
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.